The 10 most common errors

Your writing will improve greatly if you master the following points. None of them is difficult (Yes, none...is, because none means not one.) but all of them are common in students' essays. Click on the links for guidance. Good luck!

1. Its and it's. Its means belonging to it (or belonging to whatever 'it' stands for). It's means it is.
2. Use of commas to separate sentences. Many people string two sentences together with a comma instead of using a full stop. If you must string two sentences together, then use a semicolon.
3. Use of commas to separate a verb from its subject or object. Many people go wrong by inserting commas in long sentences, and end up writing the equivalent of Dogs, bark. or I like, dogs.
4. Make the verb 'agree' with the noun. Many people lose track in sentences with long or complex constructions. For example, 'The list of species are endless'. It is still one list, even if it contains millions of species, so The list of species is endless. but it's certainly true that Examples of this error are endless!
5. Faulty spelling. Again, examples of this are endless, but the common errors are listed and explained.
6. Latin and Greek word endings. Guidance on all those words that end in -um, -us, -a, -ae, -i, etc.
7. But, however, for example, etc. But, however, for example, and many other such linking or qualifying words need correct punctuation. For example, it is wrong to write: 'The dog barked, however we did not mind.' but you can write 'The dog barked, but we did not mind'. Click here for guidance.
8. Making lists. Guidance on several correct ways of listing things.
9. Referring to published works. Guidance on how to cite references, and on how to make a reference list.
10. Some common little problems. Either...or; which and that; imply and infer; I, me and myself, etc.

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